Heads-up, eyes-out. How ARA is redefining augmented reality for the modern soldier

Soldier Modernisation spoke with Stephen Andrew, Military Operations Specialist at Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA)

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When lethality and survivability are crucial to the mission, situational awareness is key. Augmented Reality (AR) is helping war fighters stay heads-up on the mission and mark friendly positions, checkpoints and targets.

Significant developments in AR are continuing worldwide for defence teams. Programmes like the US Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) point to a future of mixed-reality overlays, thermal imagery and integrated training capabilities. The potential is game-changing, but many of these innovations may still be years from wide deployment.

Soldiers, meanwhile, need tools that keep them informed, safe and decisive today. Soldier Modernisation spoke with Stephen Andrew, Military Operations Specialist at Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), to understand how operationally proven AR is already transforming missions.

Rising demand for soldier-level situational awareness

As the battlespace becomes more digital, more congested and contested, demands on the dismounted soldier grow. There are more sensors, threats appear from the ground and air, and tempo accelerates.

Stephen explains, "The infantrymen of 20 years ago experienced a much more two-dimensional game. Now, operations are more complex and dangerous. Soldiers have to understand their environment, what's around them, what's in the sky, and be able to rapidly discern a friendly drone from an enemy one, and act accordingly."

Turning digital data into real-world clarity

Basic heads-up displays provide helpful information, like temperature, time and alerts, but they are not true "augmented reality." The best AR tools go far beyond this.

The AR world that ARA talks about is a graphical user interface worn by the soldier that correlates with and responds to the real-world environment around them. These systems are increasingly used to aid combat and general military operations.

ARA's proven ARC4 RECON system is currently in use by global special operations units to mark friendly positions, detect and track suspicious activity, and maintain situational awareness day or night.

Integrating with existing soldier systems - helmets, radios, battle management solutions, fielded night vision goggles and so on - ARC4 RECON overlays routes, friendly and enemy positions, checkpoints, aircraft, and targets directly into operators' line of sight. At night, soldiers remain undetected thanks to the absence of a backlight and the elimination of IR markers.

"Battle management systems, like ATAK, are arguably the most powerful tool available to the dismounted war fighter since the two-way radio," Stephen says. "But the way soldiers digest the information needs to change, to protect soldier safety."

ARC4 RECON systems integrate with battle management systems and relay live updates directly into warfighters' line of sight, enabling tactical teams to coordinate around moving targets and changing environments.

Stephen says, "We're delivering critical information about a soldier's real-world environment directly into their vision in near real time using augmented reality. Essentially, all the information soldiers would normally get from their battle management solution is now being rendered in a very easy-to-understand and digest format, right into the soldier's eye, allowing them to achieve a heads-up, eyes-out posture."

Introducing RECON 3.0

Building on over 45 years of engineering experience, ARA is preparing to introduce the next generation ARC4 RECON 3.0. The system retains the strengths of RECON 2.4 and delivers enhanced performance at a more cost-effective price point.

"ARC4 RECON 2.4 is still considered one of the best solutions on the market for features and performance, but the battlefield isn't staying static, and neither can we," Stephen comments. "With RECON 3.0, we've focused on world-class performance, low weight, low power and ease of use - everything an operational soldier needs."

RECON 3.0 maintains a bolt-on design that integrates seamlessly with existing soldier systems. A new smart battery relocates computing and power to the rear of the helmet, improving load balance.

Operators can pair it with three display options: a day display, a non-thermal clip-on and purpose-built night-vision goggles. For international customers, the new model also introduces a thermal overlay in tandem with night vision goggles. This can help users detect, identify and track drones, robots, vehicles and personnel.

Stephen explains, "You've got night vision, long-wave infrared to see heat, and augmented reality to see the digital battlespace around you. Those three layers of information really help the human brain orient itself and understand what's going on."

A legacy of mission-focused innovation

For more than forty years, ARA has delivered engineering excellence and mission-focused innovation across the US government and defence sectors worldwide. Its AR journey began over a decade ago, supporting programmes to enhance situational awareness for dismounted troops. Today, it continues to refine and operationalise AR capabilities for real-world missions.

For more information please visit:
https://www.ara.com